Image processing apparatus, method of controlling the same and storage medium

ABSTRACT

An image processing apparatus which is capable of improving security of a printout by preventing a user from forgetting to take out the printout, and improving the efficiency of the whole system and user operability. A network section receives a job and a user ID for identifying a user from an external apparatus, and receives a user ID for identifying a user who is to exit from a specific area. It is confirmed whether or not the received user IDs match each other, and if it is confirmed that the received user IDs match each other, it is further checked whether or not the job of the user has been executed. If it is checked that the job of the user has not been executed, an attribute of the job is changed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus (imageforming apparatus) cooperating with an entrance/exit management system,a method of controlling the image processing apparatus, and moreparticularly to an image processing apparatus characterized by atechnique for preventing printouts from being left after a print jobfrom an external apparatus is executed and a method of controlling theimage processing apparatus.

2. Description of the Related Art

A print job can be transmitted from an external apparatus, such as a PC,to an image processing apparatus, thereby causing the image processingapparatus to execute the print job and discharge a printout. However,unless a user having transmitted the print job to the image processingapparatus comes over to take the printout, the printout is left as itis, and hence there is a security problem that the printout can beviewed or taken away by another user.

Particularly when a large number of print jobs are left undone in theimage processing apparatus, or when the operation of the device isstopped due to a sheet jam or during exchange of a consumable,compelling the user to wait for a long time, the user often forgets thathe has sent a print job for printing.

As a conventional technique for preventing a user from forgetting totake out a printout, there has been proposed a technique in which if aremaining sheet-detecting unit detects a printout left after printing, anotification destination is notified of the fact e.g. by mail ortelephone (see e.g. Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No.2002-132100).

In the conventional technique for notifying that the user forgets totake out printouts, by mail or telephone, if a means, such as mail ortelephone, by which the user receives the notification, is notactivated, it is impossible to know that the printout is left. Further,the user cannot receive the notification until the print job isexecuted, so that when it takes much time before the print job isexecuted, the user is likely to forget that he has send the print jobfor printing.

As a solution to the problem, it is possible to envisage a method ofautomatically canceling a job requiring long waiting time and a methodof transferring the job to another image processing apparatus, but thesemethods suffer from the problem that the user cannot always cause animage processing apparatus desired by the user to deliver a printout.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an image processing apparatus which iscapable of improving security of a printout by preventing a user fromforgetting to take out the printout, and improving the efficiency of thewhole system and user operability.

In a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an imageprocessing apparatus comprising a first reception unit configured toreceive a job and a user ID for identifying a user, transmitted from anexternal apparatus, a second reception unit configured to receive a userID for identifying a user who is to exit from a specific area, a firstconfirmation unit configured to confirm whether or not the user IDreceived by the second reception unit matches the user ID received bythe first reception unit, a second confirmation unit configured to beoperable when it is confirmed by the first confirmation unit that theuser ID received by the second reception unit matches the user IDreceived by the first reception unit, to confirm whether or not the jobof the user received by the first reception unit has been executed, anda changing unit configured to be operable when it is confirmed by thesecond confirmation unit that the job of the user received by the firstreception unit has not been executed, to change an attribute of the jobreceived by the first reception unit.

In a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a methodof controlling an image processing apparatus, comprising receiving a joband a user ID for identifying a user, transmitted from an externalapparatus, receiving a user ID for identifying a user who is to exitfrom a specific area, confirming whether or not the user ID foridentifying the user who is to exit from the specific area matches theuser ID sent from the external apparatus, confirming, when it isconfirmed that the user ID for identifying the user who is to exit fromthe specific area matches the user ID sent from the external apparatus,whether or not the received job has been executed, and changing, when itis confirmed that the received job has not been executed, an attributeof the received job.

In a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided acomputer-readable storage medium storing a program for causing acomputer to execute a method of controlling an image processingapparatus, wherein the method comprises receiving a job and a user IDfor identifying a user, transmitted from an external apparatus,receiving a user ID for identifying a user who is to exit from aspecific area, confirming whether or not the user ID for identifying theuser who is to exit from the specific area matches the user ID sent fromthe external apparatus, confirming, when it is confirmed that the userID for identifying the user who is to exit from the specific areamatches the user ID sent from the external apparatus, whether or not thereceived job has been executed, and changing, when it is confirmed thatthe received job has not been executed, an attribute of the receivedjob.

According to the image processing apparatus of the present invention, itis possible to improve the security of a printout by preventing a userfrom forgetting to take out the printout and improve the efficiency ofthe whole system and user operability.

Further features of the present invention will become apparent from thefollowing description of exemplary embodiments with reference to theattached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a controller unit and controllerunit-related parts of an image processing apparatus according to anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a controller unit and controllerunit-related parts of a PC (Personal Computer) as an example of anexternal apparatus that issues a print job to the image processingapparatus in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a controller unit and controllerunit-related parts of an entrance/exit management system.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an example of a box screen displayed on anoperating section of the image processing apparatus in FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the whole of the image processingapparatus in FIG. 1 including a discharge section, as viewed from alateral side thereof.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating an example of an operating section of theentrance/exit management system in FIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a process for generating a print job and a userID that are transmitted to the image processing apparatus, which isexecuted by the PC in FIG. 2.

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating an example of a user authentication screendisplayed on an operating section of the PC in FIG. 2.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating an example of a print configuration screendisplayed on the operating section of the PC in FIG. 2.

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of the relationship between a specificarea and the entrance/exit management system in FIG. 3.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a user authentication process executed by theentrance/exit management system shown in FIGS. 3 and 10.

FIG. 12 is a view illustrating an example of a screen displayed on theoperating section of the entrance/exit management system in FIG. 3.

FIG. 13 is a view illustrating an example of an execution waiting queuestored in an HDD of the image processing apparatus in FIG. 1.

FIG. 14 is a view illustrating an example of a left sheets list storedin the HDD of the image processing apparatus in FIG. 1.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of a user ID reception process executed by theimage processing apparatus in FIG. 1 when a user ID is received from theentrance/exit management system shown in FIGS. 3 and 10.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of a job execution process executed by the imageprocessing apparatus in FIG. 1.

FIG. 17 is a view illustrating a first example of the execution waitingqueue stored in the HDD of the image processing apparatus in FIG. 1.

FIG. 18 is a view illustrating a second example of the execution waitingqueue stored in the HDD of the image processing apparatus in FIG. 1.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart of a first user exit status value-determiningprocess for determining a user exit status value in the executionwaiting queue, which is executed by the image processing apparatus inFIG. 1.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart of a second user exit status value-determiningprocess for determining a user exit status value in the executionwaiting queue, which is executed by the image processing apparatus inFIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

The present invention will now be described in detail below withreference to the accompanying drawings showing an embodiment thereof.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a controller unit and controllerunit-related parts of an image processing apparatus according to anembodiment of the present invention.

The controller unit 100 is connected to a scanner 123 via a scanner bus122, and to a printer 125 via a printer bus 124.

Further, the controller unit 100 is connected to other devices orapparatuses via a LAN 113, a public communication line (WAN) 114, and awireless 115, and controls input and output of image information anddevice information.

A CPU 101 is a controller for controlling the whole system of the imageprocessing apparatus. A RAM 102 is a system work memory used foroperation of the CPU 101. The RAM 102 also functions as an image memoryfor temporarily storing image data.

A ROM 103 is a boot ROM that stores a boot program for the system. AnHDD (hard disk drive) 104 stores system software, image data,information for use in communication, and so forth.

An operating section interface 106 provides interface for an operatingsection 112, and outputs image data to the operating section 112 so asto cause the image data to be displayed thereon. The operating sectioninterface 106 also plays the role of transferring information input by auser of the present system via the operating section 112 to the CPU 101.

A discharge section interface 126 provides interface for a dischargesection (feeder, etc.) 127, and outputs information for performingcontrol of sheets to be fed to the discharge section 127. A networksection (comprising a first reception unit and a second reception unit)109 is connected to the LAN 113, for input and output of information. Amodem 110 is connected to the public communication line 114, for inputand output of information.

A communication section 111 is connected to the wireless 115, for inputand output of information. Further, the communication section 111 iscapable of performing a plurality of types of wireless communications.The above-mentioned devices are connected to a system bus 107.

An image bus interface 105 is a bus bridge that connects the system bus107 to an image bus 108 for use in high-speed transfer of image data,and performs data structure conversion. The image bus 108 is implementede.g. by a PCI bus or an IEEE 1394.

As one of devices connected to the image bus 108, there is provided araster image processor (RIP) 116 which rasterizes PDL code into a bitmapimage. A device interface 117 connects the scanner section 123 or theprinter 125 to the controller unit 100, and performssynchronous-to-asynchronous or asynchronous-to-synchronous conversion ofimage data.

A scanner image processor 118 performs correction, processing, andediting of input image data. A printer image processor 119 performscorrection, resolution conversion, etc. on image data to be printed out,so as to make the image data conformable to the printer 125. An imagerotation section 120 rotates image data. An image processor 121 performscompression/expansion of JPEG, JBIG, MMR, MH, etc. and format conversionprocessing for PDF, TIFF, OCR, encryption, etc. on image data.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a controller unit and controllerunit-related parts of a PC (Personal Computer) as an example of anexternal apparatus that issues a print job to the image processingapparatus in FIG. 1.

Here, the term “PC” is intended to mean a general-purpose PC, anddescription of component elements thereof which have nothing to do withthe present embodiment is omitted.

The controller unit 200 is connected to an input device 217, such as akeyboard or a mouse, via a bus 216. Further, the controller unit 200 isconnected to other devices or apparatuses via a LAN 213, a publiccommunication line (WAN) 214, and a wireless 215, and controls input andoutput of print information and user information.

A CPU 201 is a controller for controlling the whole system of the imageprocessing apparatus. A RAM 202 is a system work memory used foroperation of the CPU 201. The RAM 202 also functions as an image memoryfor temporarily storing image data.

A ROM 203 is a boot ROM that stores a boot program for the system. AnHDD (hard disk drive) 204 stores system software, image data,information required by the communication section, and so forth.

An operating section interface 206 provides interface between thecontroller unit 200 and an operating section 212, such as a display, andoutputs image data to the operating section 212 so as to cause the imagedata to be displayed thereon. The operating section interface 206 alsoplays the role of transferring information input by the user of thepresent system via the operating section 212 to the CPU 201. A networksection 209 is connected to the LAN 213, for input and output ofinformation. A modem 210 is connected to the public communication line214, for input and output of information.

A communication section 211 is connected to the wireless 215, for inputand output of information. Further, the communication section 211 iscapable of performing a plurality of types of wireless communications.The above-mentioned devices are connected to a system bus 207.

An input/output section interface 205 is connected to the input device217, and receives information, such as input information and inputinstructions. Further, an image processor 208 performscompression/expansion of JPEG, JBIG, MMR, MH, etc. and format conversionprocessing for PDF, TIFF, OCR, encryption, etc. on image data so as toconvert the image data into a format printable by the image processingapparatus.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram of a controller unit and controllerunit-related parts of an entrance/exit management system.

Next, the internal construction of the controller unit of theentrance/exit management system which is an example of an apparatus fordetecting that a user has exited from a specific area and is disposed ata gateway of a specific area will be described with reference to FIG. 3.

The controller unit 300 is connected to other devices or apparatuses viaa LAN 310, a public communication line (WAN) 311, and a wireless 312,and controls input and output of print information and user information.

A CPU 301 is a controller for controlling the whole system of the imageprocessing apparatus. A RAM 302 is a system work memory used foroperation of the CPU 301. The RAM 302 also functions as an image memoryfor temporarily storing image data.

A ROM 303 is a boot ROM that stores a boot program for the system. AnHDD (hard disk drive) 304 stores system software, user information,information required for communication, communication addresses of imageprocessing apparatuses existing in the specific area, and so forth.

An operating section interface 305 provides interface between anoperating section 313 and a card reader 314, and outputs image data tothe operating section 313 so as to cause the image data to be displayedthereon. The operating section interface 305 also plays the role oftransferring information input by the user of the present system via theoperating section 313 and the card reader 314 to the CPU 301.

A network section 307 is connected to the LAN 310, for input and outputof information. A modem 308 is connected to the public communicationline 311, for input and output of information.

A communication section 309 is connected to the wireless 312, for inputand output of information. Further, the communication section 309 iscapable of performing a plurality of types of wireless communications.The above-mentioned devices are connected to a system bus 306.

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating an example of a box screen displayed onthe operating section 112 of the image processing apparatus in FIG. 1.

The operating section 112 includes a touch panel-type display (notshown). Further, the operating section 112 is also provided with hardkeys (not shown) including ten keys used to enter numerals, and a startkey used to start processing. The user can input settings or informationto the image processing apparatus by touching (pressing) icons orbuttons (or soft keys) displayed on the touch panel-type display of theoperating section 112 for representing respective setting items (or bypressing hard keys).

The operating section 112 comprises a common area 401 where contentscommon to all screens are displayed, and a function area 402 wherescreen-specific contents are displayed.

The common area 401 comprises a copy button 403, a send button 404, abox button 405, and a system button 406.

The copy button 403 is for displaying a copy screen for configuringcopy-related settings and performing copy-related processes. Further,the send button 404 is for displaying a send screen for configuringsend-related settings and performing send-related processes.

Further, the box button 405 is for displaying a box screen forconfiguring box-related settings and performing box-related processes(in FIG. 4, the box button 405 is displayed in reverse video for theuser to be aware that it is currently selected). Further, the systembutton 406 is for displaying a system state screen for viewinginformation concerning the whole system.

The above buttons 403 to 406 are configured to be exclusive from eachother such that only one selected button is activated to displaycontents in the function area 402.

In FIG. 4, an example of the box screen is shown.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the whole of the image processingapparatus in FIG. 1 including the discharge section 127, as viewed froma lateral side thereof.

The image processing apparatus 501 communicates with a discharge unit502 via the discharge section interface 126. The discharge unit 502includes a discharge section sensor 503, and can acquire information fordetermining whether or not the user has removed a printout 505 from thedischarge unit 502 by using the discharge section sensor 503.

More specifically, the discharge section sensor 503 detects whether ornot an object has passed through a detection area 504, to therebydetermine whether or not the printout 505 is removed (hereafter, it isassumed that if an object passes through the detection area 504, it isregarded that a printout 505 is removed).

Further, the discharge section sensor 503 is movable, and hence thedetection area 504 recognizable by the discharge section sensor 503 maybe moved to a position where a printout 505 is placed, for performingdetection concerning whether or not there is a printout 505. Further, itis assumed that the discharge unit 502 and the discharge section sensor503 are always in operation while the controller unit 100 is inoperation.

The discharge section sensor 503 has the same configuration as that of ageneral sensor, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

Next, an example of the operating section 313 of the entrance/exitmanagement system in FIG. 3 will be described with reference to FIG. 6.In the illustrated example, it is assumed that the operating section 313is integrally configured with the card reader 314.

The operating section 313 comprises an authentication message area 601,a printout message area 604, and a card reader recognition section 606.The authentication message area 601 displays a message 602 e.g. sayingthat “Please pass your card through the reader section at a side of theapparatus when you exit”, and an authentication result area 603, and theprintout message area 604 displays a printout check result area 605.

The card reader recognition section 606 has a groove through which theuser passes a magnetic card, and can read information of the magneticcard passing through the groove (description thereof is omitted sincethe card reader recognition section 606 is of a general type).

User information can be detected from information received via theoperating section interface 305. It is determined based on the detecteduser information whether or not the user is authorized (registered inadvance) and the result of the determination is displayed in theauthentication result area 603. If the result of the authentication isaffirmative, the user information is further notified to the imageprocessing apparatus, and a message based on a response from the imageprocessing apparatus is displayed in the printout check result area 605.

FIG. 7 is a flowchart of a process for generating a print job and a userID that are transmitted to the image processing apparatus, which isexecuted by the PC in FIG. 2.

Next, the process executed by the PC for generating a print job and auser ID that are transmitted to the image processing apparatus will bedescribed using the FIG. 7 flowchart.

In the following description, unless otherwise explicitly specified, itis assumed that the CPU of each controller unit performs processing,determination, and input and output of data to and from the operatingsection and the image processor thereof based on control programs anddata stored in the HDD thereof

Further, it is assumed that data generated during the processing, anddata received from outside via the operating section interface, thenetwork section, the modem and the communication section of eachcontroller unit are all stored in the HDD thereof. Further, it isassumed that information displayed for the user is all displayed on theoperating section via the operating section interface after being storedin the HDD of the respective controller unit.

When the user starts the PC, a user authentication screen shown in FIG.8 is displayed on the operating section 212 (step S701). On this screen,when the CPU 201 detects that a user ID and a password have been inputto a user ID area 801 and a password area 802 using the input device217, such as the keyboard, respectively, the following processing iscarried out:

First, it is authenticated whether or not the input user ID and passwordmatch information stored in advance in the HDD 204 (step S702).Hereafter, if a pair of user information (user ID) and a password inputby the user match user information and a password of the user, stored inadvance in the HDD 204, the user is referred to as “an authorized user”,and if not, the user is referred to as “an unauthorized user”.

If it is determined based on a result of the authentication that theuser ID and the password are input by an unauthorized user, the userauthentication screen is returned again to the state before the user IDand the password have been input via the input device 217 (the processreturns to the step S701, wherein a user authentication screenillustrated in FIG. 8 is displayed again on the operating section 212).

On the other hand, if it is determined based on the result of theauthentication that the user ID and the password are input by anauthorized user, the user is regarded as a user in a logged-in state,and the process proceeds to the following steps (step S703 and S704)

Next, a description will be given of a process performed when the userexecutes an application program e.g. for editing files, on the PC. Whenthe user gives a print instruction from the application program, a printconfiguration screen as shown in FIG. 9 is displayed on the operatingsection 212.

On the print configuration screen, print settings (in the illustratedexample, for printing one copy of all pages by the image processingapparatus (printer) A) are made, and an OK button 901 is pressed,whereupon the following process is performed.

When the CPU 201 detects that printing is instructed to be started bypressing the OK button 901 (step S703), the CPU 201 identifies, based onthe information set from the operating section 212, print data, the userinformation (user ID) of the user in the logged-in state, and an imageprocessing apparatus to be communicated with, for printing.

Here, the term “print data” is intended to mean data converted by theimage processor 208 into a data format (e.g. PDL data) printable by theimage processing apparatus identified in the step S704.

Then, the CPU 201 transmits a print job (including the print data) andthe user ID from the PC to the identified image processing apparatus viathe LAN 213 (step S704).

The above-described process makes it possible to transmit the print joband the user ID from the PC to the image processing apparatus.

First, an example of an entrance/exit management system and imageprocessing apparatuses arranged in an specific area will be describedwith reference to FIG. 10. In the illustrated example, the imageprocessing apparatuses 1004 and 1005 are arranged in the specific area1001.

Further, the entrance/exit management system 1003 is disposed in thevicinity of an entrance/exit door 1002 through which the user exits fromthe specific area 1001. For the user to exit from the specific area1001, authentication of the user is performed by the entrance/exitmanagement system 1003, and when the user is permitted to exit, theentrance/exit door 1002 is opened.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a user authentication process executed by theentrance/exit management system shown in FIGS. 3 and 10.

Next, the user authentication process which is executed by theentrance/exit management system when the user exits from the specificarea will be described with reference to FIG. 11.

The CPU 301 detects that the user has passed a magnetic card through thecard reader recognition section 606 of the entrance/exit managementsystem 1003, and receives a user ID stored in the card via the operatingsection interface 305 (step S1101). Then, the CPU 301 compares whetheror not the user ID matches a user ID stored in advance in the HDD 304(step S1102).

As a result of the comparison, if the user ID does not match the user IDstored in the HDD 304, the CPU 301 regards the user as an unauthorizeduser to display “NG” in the authentication result area 603, and theprocess returns to a state before reception of the user ID (before thestep S1101).

On the other hand, as the result of the comparison, if the user IDmatches the user ID stored in the HDD 304, the CPU 301 regards the useras an authorized user to display “OK” in the authentication result area603, and notifies the image processing apparatuses in the specific areaof the user ID via the LAN 311 (step S1103).

In response to the user ID (this process will be described in detailhereinafter), the image processing apparatuses notify information thatthe exit of the user is permitted (“EXIT OK”) or is inhibited (“EXITNG”) to the CPU 301, and the CPU 301 determines whether or not there isreceived any notification of “EXIT NG” (step S1104).

If the CPU 301 receives the information of “EXIT OK” from all the imageprocessing apparatuses notified of the user ID, the CPU 301 displays“OK” in the printout result area 605, and completes the present process(step S1105). If it is impossible to receive a determination resultresponsive to the user ID from an image processing apparatus notified ofthe user ID even after the lapse of a predetermined time period, it isregarded that “EXIT OK” is notified from the image processing apparatus(although it may be configured to be regarded that “EXIT NG” is notifiedfrom the image processing apparatus, in the present embodiment, it isregarded that “EXIT OK” is notified from the image processingapparatus). Then, the CPU 301 opens the entrance/exit door 1002.

On the other hand, if the CPU 301 receives the information of “EXIT NG”from at least one of the image processing apparatuses to which the CPU301 has transmitted the user ID, the CPU 301 displays a warning message(shown e.g. in FIG. 12) saying that the printout check result is “NG”,in the printout result area 605, and completes the present process (stepS1106).

In the present embodiment, the entrance/exit door 1002 is kept closed(although the entrance/exit door 1002 may be configured to open, in thepresent embodiment, the entrance/exit door 1002 is kept closed so as toforce the user to go over to take the printout).

As described above, when the user exits from the specific area, theabove-described process is performed whereby if the user has not takenout a printout from the discharge section 127, a warning for causing theuser to take out the printout is issued, whereas if there is no printoutin the discharge section 127, the user can exit from the specific areawithout being warned.

Next, processing by the image processing apparatus will be descried.First of all, a description will be given of an execution waiting queueand a left sheets list stored in the HDD 104 of the image processingapparatus. Then, a description will be given of a case where the imageprocessing apparatus receives the user ID from the entrance/exitmanagement system 1003, and finally a description will be given ofprocessing performed by the image processing apparatus when it actuallyexecutes a job.

When the print job and the user ID transmitted from the PC are receivedby the network section 109 of the image processing apparatus, the printjob and the user ID are stored in the execution waiting queue in the HDD104 in a manner associated with each other. In the execution waitingqueue, there are arranged jobs of any of the job types of “copy”,“print”, “box”, etc., in the order of execution thereof. Accordingly,when a new job is added to the queue, it is added to the trailing end ofthe queue.

Illustrated in FIG. 13 is an example of the execution waiting queuewhich includes a latest added print job associated with a user ID: 38610(a job of a job type “print” with job settings of printing one copy ofthree pages on A4 size sheets).

In the above execution waiting queue, a user exit status is also storedas an item associated with the user ID and the job type. In the case ofa newly added job, a default value of 0 (indicating that an associateduser has not exited) is automatically input to an associated box of thecolumn of the user exit status.

Further, when the user ID is notified from the entrance/exit managementsystem 1003, the value of the user exit status associated with the userID is changed to 1 (indicating that the associated user has exited). Forexample, when the user ID 38610 is notified from the entrance/exitmanagement system 1003, the value of the user exit status having queueNo. 3 in FIG. 13 is changed to 1. It should be noted that information onthe job type, job settings and user exit status of a job in theexecution waiting queue in FIG. 13 corresponds to an attribute of a jobin the present invention.

The HDD 104 of the image processing apparatus also stores the leftsheets list to which are added information items each concerning aprintout when the printout is actually delivered (an example of the leftsheets list is illustrated in FIG. 14). This left sheets list includesuser IDs each for identifying information of a user having performedprinting, and left sheet flags each for use in determining whether ornot the user has removed a printout delivered by the printing. When aleft sheet flag is first added to this left sheets list together with auser ID associated therewith, a default value of 1 (indicating that theprintout is left) is automatically input to an associated box of thecolumn of the left sheet flag.

When it is notified by the discharge section interface 126 that printedproducts (printouts) have been removed, all the left sheet flagsregistered in the left sheets list are changed to 0 (indicating that noprinted products are left). For example, when the left sheets list is inthe state illustrated in FIG. 14, when it is notified by the dischargesection interface 126 that the printed products have been removed, allthe left sheet flags associated with the list Nos. 1 to 3 are changed to0.

In the present embodiment, all the left sheet flags are changed to 0.However, if a plurality of discharge trays are provided, and sensors arearranged in the respective trays, thereby making it possible to detectfrom which discharge tray printed products have been removed, it ispossible to change only a left sheet flag associated with a list numberassociated with the removed printed products to 0.

To this end, for example, it is only required that a plurality ofdischarge trays are provided, and sensors are arranged in the respectivetrays, thereby making it possible to detect from which discharge trayprinted products have been taken out, i.e. removed.

Further, when it is notified by the discharge section interface 126 thatno printed products remain in the discharge section 127, all thecontents of the left sheets list are deleted to make the list empty.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of a user ID reception process executed by theimage processing apparatus in FIG. 1 when a user ID is received from theentrance/exit management system shown in FIGS. 3 and 10.

When the user ID of a user who is about to exit is received via thenetwork section 109 (step S1501), it is determined whether or not theleft sheets list includes the same user ID as the received user ID (stepS1502).

The step S1501 corresponds to the function of the second reception unitin the present invention, for receiving a user ID used for identifying auser who is about to exit from the specific area.

If the left sheets list does not include the same user ID, the processproceeds to a step S1505, wherein the execution waiting queue ischecked. On the other hand, if the left sheets list includes the sameuser ID, a left sheet flag stored in a manner associated with the userID is checked from the left sheets list (step S1503).

If it is determined in the step S1503 that the left sheet flag is equalto 1 (indicating that the printed product is left), “NG (printed productremaining)” is notified to the entrance/exit management system 1003(step S1504), followed by terminating the present process. However, ifthe left sheet flag is equal to 0 (indicating that no printed productremaining), it is checked in the step S1505 whether or not the same userID as the user ID received from the entrance/exit management system 1003is in the execution waiting queue (step S1505).

The step S1504 corresponds to the function of a warning unit in thepresent invention, for giving a warning to the user who is about to exitfrom the specific area, if it is not detected by the discharge sectionsensor 503 that the user has removed a printout after a job of the userreceived by the first reception unit in the present invention has beenexecuted.

The step S1505 corresponds to a function of a first confirmation unit inthe present invention, for confirming whether or not a user ID receivedby the second reception unit in the present invention matches a user IDreceived by the first reception unit in the present invention. Further,the step S1505 corresponds to a function of a second confirmation unitin the present invention, for confirming whether or not the job of theuser ID received by the first reception unit has been executed, when itis confirmed by the first confirmation unit that the user IDs match eachother.

If it is determined in the step S1505 that a job having the same user IDis not in the execution waiting queue, “OK” is notified to theentrance/exit management system 1003 (step S1507), followed byterminating the present process, whereas if a job having the same userID is in the execution waiting queue, the value of an associated userexit status in the execution waiting queue is changed to 1 (indicatingthat the associated user has exited) (step S1506).

This is because execution of the job in the execution waiting queue issuspended since the user exits from the specific area. Then, after thevalue of the user exit status has been changed, “OK” is notified to theentrance/exit management system 1003 (step S1507), followed byterminating the present process.

The step S1506 corresponds to a function of a changing unit in thepresent invention, for changing an attribute of the job received by thefirst reception unit in the present invention, if it is confirmed by thesecond confirmation unit in the present invention that the job has notbeen executed.

The CPU 101 corresponds to a retry unit in the present invention, forreturning a job of a user who has returned to the specific area, out ofjobs whose attributes have been changed by the changing unit in thepresent invention, to a state before the attribute of the job has beenchanged, when the second reception unit in the present inventionreceives the user ID of the user, out of users having exited from thespecific area, who has returned to the specific area.

Further, the CPU 101 corresponds to a predicting unit in the presentinvention, for predicting time taken to execute the job received by thefirst reception unit. Further, the function of the changing unit in thepresent invention includes changing the attribute of the job received bythe first reception unit, based on the time predicted by the predictingunit.

Further, the function of the changing unit includes changing theattribute of the job received by the first reception unit, based on aresult of the detection by the discharge section sensor 503.

Next, a job execution process for actually executing a job by the imageprocessing apparatus having the above-mentioned execution waiting queuewill be described with reference to FIG. 16.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of the job execution process executed by theimage processing apparatus in FIG. 1.

First of all, it is determined whether or not the execution waitingqueue is empty (step S1601). If the execution waiting queue is empty,the determination in the step S1601 is repeatedly executed until a newjob is input to the execution waiting queue.

If the execution waiting queue is not empty, a job in a first positionin the execution waiting queue is determined (step S1602). Then, it isdetermined whether or not the job is of a job type involving deliveringa printout (step S1603).

If the job is not of a job type involving delivering a printout (e.g. ifthe job type is “send” for sending scanned data via the network), thefollowing steps are executed: First, the job is immediately executed(step S1606), and the job is deleted from the execution waiting queue(step S1607), followed by the process returning to the determinationwhether or not the execution waiting queue has become empty (stepS1601).

On the other hand, if the job is of a job type involving delivering aprintout, it is determined whether or not the value of a user exitstatus associated with the job is equal to 1 (step S1604). If it isdetermined that the value of the user exit status is not equal to 1 (ifequal to 0), the user is within the specific area, so that the job isimmediately executed (step S1606), and the job is deleted from theexecution waiting queue (step S1607), followed by the process returningto the determination whether or not the execution waiting queue hasbecome empty (step S1601).

However, if the value of the user exit status is equal to 1, the job ischanged such that the type thereof becomes “box” (job for storing jobcontents in the HDD 104), and the changed job is executed (step S1605).

After that, the job is deleted from the execution waiting queue (stepS1607), followed by the process returning to the determination whetheror not the execution waiting queue has become empty (step S1601).

Next, a description will be given of a case where the execution waitingqueue shown in FIG. 17 is stored in the HDD 104, by way of example.

First, it is checked whether or not the execution waiting queue is empty(step S1601). As a result of the check, it is determined that there arethree jobs awaiting execution in the execution waiting queue and a jobwhich has queue No. 1 and is in the first position in the queue is to beexecuted (step S1602).

Next, by checking the job type of this job, it is determined that thejob type is “print” (step S1603), and hence further the value of theuser exit status is also checked (step S1604). As the result of thischeck, it is determined that the value of the user exit status is equalto 0, which means that the user who has requested execution of the jobhas not exited from the specific area, so that the job having jobsettings of “printing of print data set to 10 copies of 1 page on A4size sheets” is immediately performed (step S1606). Then, the job isdeleted from the execution waiting queue (step S1607). Consequently, theexecution waiting queue is placed in a state shown in FIG. 18.

Next, the process returns to the step S1601, wherein the same processingas executed on the job having queue No. 1 is carried out on a job havingqueue No. 2. In this case, the job type of the job is “send”, and henceafter the step S1603, the job having job settings of “sending of scanneddocument of a.pdf to address abc” is performed (step S1606). Then, thejob is deleted from the execution waiting queue (step S1607).

Finally, a job having queue No. 3 is executed. In this case, the sameprocessing as executed on the job having queue No. 1 is executed up tothe step S1604. In the step S1604, however, it is determined the valueof the user exit status is equal to 1, and hence the job type of the jobis changed from “print” to “box”.

Further, the job is changed such that the job settings thereof arechanged from “printing of print data set to one copy of 3 pages on A4size sheets” to “storage of print data set to one copy of 3 pages on A4size sheets”, and the changed job is executed (step S1605). Then, thejob is deleted from the execution waiting queue (step S1607).

Since the execution waiting queue becomes empty by the above-mentionedprocessing, the present process is suspended until a new job is input tothe execution waiting queue.

As described hereinabove, a job awaiting execution, which is issued by auser who is about to exit from the specific area is checked, and theattribute of an unexecuted print job is changed, whereby it is possibleto prevent execution of printing associate with the unexecuted printjob. This makes it possible to prevent printouts from being left in adischarge tray.

A job of a user who exits from the specific area, which is in theexecution waiting queue, is stored in the HDD 104. If the job is storedin a state configured such that it can be restored again in theexecution waiting queue, it is also possible to perform the followingprocessing:

When the entrance/exit management system 1003 detects the user ID of theuser who has returned to the specific area, the entrance/exit managementsystem 1003 notifies the image processing apparatus of this user ID.Then, when the image processing apparatus receives the user ID via thenetwork section 109, the CPU 101 searches for the job stored in the HDD104 in association with the user ID, and then automatically restores thejob in the execution waiting queue.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Inthe following description, component elements of the present embodimentwhich are the same as those of the first embodiment are denoted by thesame reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. The presentembodiment is distinguished from the first embodiment in that theattribute (user exit status) of a job stored in the execution waitingqueue is changed not after the user exits from the specific area butbefore the user exits from the specific area. It is assumed that all theprocesses characterizing the present embodiment are performed by theimage processing apparatus.

In the first embodiment, when a new job is added to the executionwaiting queue in the HDD 104 of the image processing apparatus, a userexit status which indicates whether or not a user associated with thenew job has exited from the specific area, is set to a default value of0 (indicating that the user has not exited). However, the default valueof the user exit status can be changed by performing the followingprocessing:

It is assumed that an exit time when the user is scheduled to exit fromthe specific area is stored in the HDD 104, and further time taken toexecute all the jobs stored in the execution waiting queue can bepredicted.

Next, a process for determining the value of the user exit status in theabove-mentioned case will be described with reference to FIG. 19. A partof the process performed after the value of the user exit status isdetermined and is input to the execution waiting queue is the same as inthe first embodiment, and hence description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 19 is a flowchart of a first user exit status value-determiningprocess executed by the image processing apparatus in FIG. 1, fordetermining a user exit status value to be stored in the executionwaiting queue.

First, an exit time is determined which has been stored in the executionwaiting queue in a manner associated with the user ID of a job to beadded to the execution waiting queue (step S1901). Next, total timetaken to execute all the jobs remaining in the execution waiting queue,and time taken to execute the job newly added to the queue arepredicted. Then, the resulting total time is set to a waiting timeperiod (step S1902).

Next, it is determined whether or not a time point after the lapse ofthe waiting time period from the current time point will be before theexit time determined in the step S1901 (step S1903).

As a result of the determination, if it is determined that theprocessing of the job will be terminated before the exit time when theuser exits from the specific area, the value of the user exit statusassociated with the job to be added to the execution waiting queue isset to 0, and the job is added (step S1904). On the other hand, if it isdetermined that the processing of the job will be terminated after theexit time, the user exit status value of the to-be-added job is set to1, and the job is added to the execution waiting queue (step S1905).

For example, let it be assumed that it is stored in the HDD 104 that auser having a user ID of 38610 is scheduled to exit from the specificarea at 22 o'clock. Further, let it be assumed that it is possible topredict that it takes eight minutes to execute all the jobs stored inthe execution waiting queue, and it takes two minutes to execute a jobthat the user having the user ID of 38610 has input. In this case, thefirst user exit status value-determining process is performed asfollows:

If the job is input before 21:50, it is added to the execution waitingqueue after setting a user exit status value associated therewith to 0,whereas if the job is input after 21:50, it is added to the executionwaiting queue after setting the user exit status value associatedtherewith to 1.

Thus, when an exit time when a user is to exit from the specific area isdetermined, all jobs to be executed after the exit time are stored inthe HDD 104, whereby it is possible to prevent printouts from being leftin the discharge tray.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described. Inthe following description, component elements of the present embodimentwhich are the same as those of the first embodiment are denoted by thesame reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. The presentembodiment is distinguished from the first embodiment also in that theattribute (user exit status) of a job stored in the execution waitingqueue is changed not after a user associated with the job exits from thespecific area but before the user exits from the specific area. It isassumed that all the processes characterizing the present embodiment areperformed by the image processing apparatus.

In the first embodiment, when a new job is added to the executionwaiting queue in the HDD 104 of the image processing apparatus, thevalue of a user exit status is set to a default value of 0. However, ifthe discharge section sensor 503 is capable of detecting that printedsheets the number of which is not smaller a predetermined value areplaced on the discharge tray, it is possible to change the default valueof the user exit status by the following process:

Now, the process for determining the value of the user exit status willbe described with reference to FIG. 20. A part of the process performedafter the value of the user exit status is determined and is input tothe execution waiting queue is the same as in the first embodiment, andhence description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 20 is a flowchart of a second user exit status value-determiningprocess executed by the image processing apparatus in FIG. 1, fordetermining a user exit status value to be stored in the executionwaiting queue.

First, when a new job is added to the execution waiting queue, thedischarge section sensor 503 checks whether or not only printed sheetsthe number of which is not lager than a predetermined number are placedon the discharge tray (step S2001). In this case, the check may beperformed e.g. by a method of detecting a total height of the printedsheets, and regarding, if the detected total height is within apredetermined height, that the number of printed sheets on the dischargetray is not larger than the predetermined number.

As a result of the determination, if the number of the printed sheetsplaced on the discharge tray is not lager than the predetermined number,the job is added to the execution waiting queue after setting the userexit status value of the job to be added to the execution waiting queueto 0 (step S2002). On the other hand, if the number of the printedsheets on the discharge tray is larger than the predetermined number,the job is added to the execution waiting queue after setting the userexit status value of the job to be added to the execution waiting queueto 1 (step S2003).

Thus, if the number of the printed sheets discharged onto the dischargesection 127 is larger than a predetermined number, it is possible toautomatically prevent execution of printing. This makes it possible toprevent sheets from falling from the discharge section 127 and beingscattered and lost therefrom.

Aspects of the present invention can also be realized by a computer of asystem or apparatus (or devices such as a CPU or MPU) that reads out andexecutes a program recorded on a memory device to perform the functionsof the above-described embodiment(s), and by a method, the steps ofwhich are performed by a computer of a system or apparatus by, forexample, reading out and executing a program recorded on a memory deviceto perform the functions of the above-described embodiment(s). For thispurpose, the program is provided to the computer for example via anetwork or from a recording medium of various types serving as thememory device (e.g., computer-readable medium).

While the present invention has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is notlimited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. The scope of thefollowing claims is to be accorded the broadest interpretation so as toencompass all such modifications and equivalent structures andfunctions.

This application claims the benefit of Japanese Patent Application No.2009-093106, filed Apr. 7, 2009, which is hereby incorporated byreference herein in its entirety.

What is claimed is:
 1. An image processing apparatus comprising: a firstreception unit configured to receive a print job and a user ID foridentifying a user, transmitted from an external apparatus; a secondreception unit configured to receive a user ID for identifying a userwho is to exit from a specific area; a first confirmation unitconfigured to confirm whether or not the user ID received by said firstreception unit matches the user ID received by said second receptionunit; a print unit configured to be operable when it is confirmed bysaid first confirmation unit that the user ID received by said firstreception unit does not match the user ID received by said secondreception unit, to print data of the print job received by said firstreception unit; and a control unit configured to be operable when it isconfirmed by said first confirmation unit that the user ID received bysaid first reception unit matches the user ID received by said secondreception unit, to control the print unit not to print the data of theprint job received by said first reception unit.
 2. The image processingapparatus according to claim 1, comprising a warning unit configured tobe operable when the print job of the user received by said firstreception unit has been executed, to detect whether or not the printoutis removed from a discharge unit, by a discharge unit sensor capable ofdetecting an amount of printout discharged onto said discharge unit, andif the printout has not been removed, giving a warning to the user whois about to exit from the specific area.
 3. The image processingapparatus according to claim 1, comprising a retry unit configured to beoperable when said second reception unit receives a user ID of a user,who has returned to the specific area, out of users having exited fromthe specific area, to return a print job of the user having returned tothe specific area, out of jobs of which respective attributes have beenchanged by said changing unit, to a state before the attribute of thejob has been changed.
 4. The image processing apparatus according toclaim 1, comprising a predicting unit configured to predict time takento execute the print job received by said first reception unit, andwherein said control unit controls the print unit not to print the dataof the print job received by said the first reception unit, based on aresult of prediction by said predicting unit.
 5. The image processingapparatus according to claim 2, wherein said control unit controls theprint unit not to print the data of the print job received by said thefirst reception unit, based on a result of detection by said dischargeunit sensor.
 6. A method of controlling an image processing apparatus,comprising: receiving a job and a user ID for identifying a user,transmitted from an external apparatus; receiving a user ID foridentifying a user who is to exit from a specific area; confirmingwhether or not the user ID sent from the external apparatus matches theuser ID for identifying the user who is to exit from the specific area;printing, when it is confirmed that the user ID sent from the externalapparatus does not match the user ID for identifying the user who is toexit from the specific area, data of the received print job; andcontrolling, when it is confirmed that the user ID sent from theexternal apparatus matches, not to print the data of the received printjob.
 7. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing aprogram for causing a computer to execute a method of controlling animage processing apparatus, wherein the method comprises: receiving ajob and a user ID for identifying a user, transmitted from an externalapparatus; receiving a user ID for identifying a user who is to exitfrom a specific area; confirming whether or not the user ID sent fromthe external apparatus matches the user ID for identifying the user whois to exit from the specific area; printing, when it is confirmed thatthe user ID sent from the external apparatus does not match the user IDfor identifying the user who is to exit from the specific area, data ofthe received print job; and controlling, when it is confirmed that theuser ID sent from the external apparatus matches, not to print the dataof the received print job.